"I was worried that (filmmakers) were going to have people swinging from wires," says Luttrell. "Or that movie thing when you get into a gunfight and you're always hitting your mark."

"I love that you were worried they'd have you falling in love with the village elder's daughter," adds Wahlberg.

"I feared it would become a love story," says Luttrell. "But actually, it is a different love story."

The world will see Luttrell's tale of brotherhood, bravery and resilience when the adaptation of his 2007 best-selling account of the ill-fated Operation Red Wings hits the big screen Dec. 25 (opens in select cities before expanding nationwide Jan. 10) with Wahlberg portraying him.

The 2005 covert mission in the mountains of Afghanistan resulted in an enemy ambush that took the lives of his three fellow SEALs, along with 16 other soldiers and SEALs on a Chinook helicopter sent in for a rescue.

Luttrell says that in order for him to pay proper tribute to his fallen brothers it was key that the movie be made correctly. He insists he felt his hand forced to make the film.

"Hollywood was calling, they were going to do it with me or without me," says Luttrell, 38. "I didn't have a choice. It had to be done. And it had to be done right. I was absolutely apprehensive."

He found a kindred spirit in screenwriter/director/producer Peter Berg. After meeting with a number of producers eager for the project rights, Luttrell told Berg in 2007, "It's yours, don't mess it up."

Of equal importance was making sure that the actors portraying his fellow SEALs - Taylor Kitsch (as Michael Murphy), Emile Hirsch (Danny Dietz) and Ben Foster (Matt 'Axe' Axelson) - were up to the task. Luttrell and a group of SEALs were on the New Mexico set to train the group to be a true fighting unit. The SEALs had full rights to interrupt any scene that did not ring true, and they did.

"We wanted to make sure it was as realistic as possible," says Wahlberg. "We checked all the Hollywood (crap) at the door and were completely at the mercy of the SEALs and Marcus."

Amid the mortar blasts and live fire exchanges, Wahlberg and company eventually earned Luttrell's respect.

"If I threw him a rifle right now and told him to do something, he'd be OK," says Luttrell, eyeing Wahlberg from across a restaurant table. "He knows his business. He can talk the talk and walk the walk."

Even so, Wahlberg says it was "nerve-racking" when Luttrell saw the finished film for the first time. Wahlberg allowed Berg to give a private screening. "I was hoping if Marcus didn't like it, (Berg) would get the brunt of it. And maybe Marcus would be a little tired by the time he got to me."

Certain liberties were taken with the film and were explained to Luttrell, who agreed they didn't compromise the story. He believes the final product hit the mark.

"I think they captured it. Actually, I know they did," says Luttrell. "I watched the movie. And I went through it in real life. There was no problem."

His message to Berg and Wahlberg after seeing the film: "I said 'Thank you.' I'm not one for words."

"As humble and as honest as Marcus is, he doesn't throw compliments around,'' responds Wahlberg. "That was more than enough for us."